Dec. 19, 2019
Dec. 19, 2019

Academic Office Newsletter

From the Office of Dr. Paula Knight, Deputy Superintendent of Academics
Got feedback? We want to hear it!
Spring Break Literacy Camp: Teacher Interest Survey
Saint Louis Public Schools is considering hosting a Spring Break Literacy Camp at an offsite location for students in grades 2-5 this March. The purpose of this survey is to gauge teacher interest in teaching at the Spring Break Camp. You can take the survey by following this link: Teacher Survey 
BusinessPlus Purchase Transaction Review
Finance will be conducting purchase requisition and PO user reviews every Friday in January (10th, 17th, 24th, 31st) from 11am to 1pm at Central Office in Lab 5. Everyone that enters purchases into BusinessPlus must attend a one-hour review (each review starts daily at 11am and 12pm). Purchase requisition approvers are also encouraged to attend.
The objectives of the reviews are to help schools and departments to:
  • Receive purchases more timely
  • Pay vendors more timely
  • Free up funds to use before the requisition deadline
  • Reinforce best practices
If you have questions, please email BusinessPlusHelp@slps.org. Happy Holidays!
Goals of the Missouri Learning Standards in Science
  • K-12 science education should reflect the real world interconnections in science.
  • Science concepts build coherently across K-12. (A foundation is set in primary grades to help build understanding of more complicated topics.)
  • The Missouri Learning Standards (MLS) focus on deeper understanding and application of content.
  • Science and engineering are integrated in science education from K–12. 
  • The MLS are designed to prepare ALL students for college, career and citizenship.
BONUS: Click HERE for an article that covers the importance of Elementary Science Teaching.
Questions Please contact Carrie Launius at 314-345-4444 or email Janet.Launius@slps.org.
PreK Professional Development: Seeking Teacher Leaders
The Early Childhood Education Department is seeking teacher leaders to facilitate 2020-2021 districtwide professional development presentations for pre-kindergarten staff. 
A commitment to presenting sessions on all districtwide PD days is requested, and presenter teams (of 2 to 3 people) are encouraged. Choose a topic of interest and expertise to join the ECE PD Team! Please complete the 2020-2021 PD Presenter Interest Form to be considered for this enriching opportunity.
Leading Equity Virtual Summit
The Leading Equity Center is hosting a free online professional development event Jan. 2-7, 2020. The Leading Equity Virtual Summit is an online event designed to inform, improve and inspire educators to ensure equity in their schools. Sixteen influential leaders in education will participate in this event, including Dr. Pedro Noguera, Zaretta Hammond and Cornelius Minor.
Some of the topics covered in this event include:
  • Educating in a Post-9/11 Society
  • How to Overcome Microwave Equity
  • Unpacking Identity-Affirming Schools
  • Culture, Taxation, Tokenism and Erasure
  • Instructional Equity: How to Coach Like a Personal Trainer
  • The Myths of Classroom Management
  • Educating the Whole Child
Click HERE to reserve a ticket. 
GOOD NEWS: Future Saluki Jathen Jones! 
Congratulations to Carnahan High School Senior Jathen Jones, who has received a $130,000+ full-ride football scholarship to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he will start college in the fall. We are excited to watch him shine both on and off the field! 
GOOD NEWS: CVPA Poets
Two extremely talented writers from Central Visual & Performing Arts High School have made it to the final round of the search for the next Saint Louis Youth Poet Laureate!
Darius Jackson and Lara Wulff will showcase their original pieces in upcoming literary events and potentially win this esteemed recognition -- the winner will be named at a special celebration on the evening of Friday, Jan. 10.
REMINDER: Seeking Nominations for 2019-2020 Educator of the Year Program
Do you know an outstanding educator? If so, it is time to nominate for the 2019-2020 Educator of the Year.
In order to be eligible, applicants must:
  • be currently employed, full-time with Saint Louis Public Schools
  • have completed their second full year of experience (unless otherwise specified) in an award-eligible content area
  • have met experience requirements while employed with Saint Louis Public Schools and be in good standing with Parsons Blewett
  • be fully certified and appropriately credentialed
The nomination period closes Jan. 10, 2020. The nominee is notified once nominated and will send the application packet
Nominate TODAY at this link!
Did You Miss an Issue of the Academic Office Newsletter? 
There is now an archive of all issues of the Academic Office Newsletter. Yay! Click HERE or visit slps.org/AONArchive.
PD Booster Sessions Schedule
Click HERE for a full calendar of upcoming booster sessions from the Curriculum Team!
Standards-Based Learning CORNER
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: When will SLPS be going to a Standards-Based Learning system?
A: The roll out will begin in August 2020, but the work to prepare for that roll out began in April 2019.
Q: Is this for all grade-levels and content areas?
A: Eventually, yes. However, this process will be strategic. Not all grade levels will roll out at the same time.
Q: Are there other area districts that are in a Standards-Based Learning System?
A: Yes. In SLPS, we are in a Standards-Based System from PreK-2nd grade. Additionally, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Mehlville, Ritenour, Rockwood, St. Charles City, and many more school districts are using a Standards-Based Learning system.
Click HERE to complete a survey to inform our work.
Come back to the Academic Newsletter each week for updated information about the SLPS journey from TEACHING to LEARNING in a Standards-Based Learning System.
CURRICULUM CORNER: Science
The crosscutting concepts are the third domain of 3-Dimensional Instruction. They have application across all domains of science. They include patterns; cause and effect; scale, proportion and quantity; systems and system models; energy and matter; structure and function; and stability and change.
CCC# 7 – Stability and Change – For both designed and natural systems, conditions that affect stability and factors that control rates of change are critical elements to consider and understand.
For more information visit ngss@nsta.org.
Guest WiFi Password
  • December: peace
  • January: snowy
  • February: heart
  • March: windy
  • April: rainy 
DISTRICT CALENDAR

DEC 20
♦ Recordkeeping Day (no students)

DEC 23-31
♦ Winter Break for school-based staff, 12-month staff work Dec. 23, Dec. 26-27 and Dec. 30-31

DEC 31
♦ Deadline to comment on Missouri’s revised Consolidated ESSA Plan: LINK / COMMENT

JAN 8
♦ ACCESS test training

JAN 10
♦ Nomination period closes for Educator of the Year: LINK

JAN 15
♦ CVPA Winter Fine Arts Night [DATE CHANGE]: FLYER

FEB 8
♦ Harris-Stowe "Take a Kid to the Game" Day

FEB 17
♦ Deadline to apply for the Princeton Summer Journalism Program: LINK / FLYER
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